Douer; and so by easie iournies the one and twentith daie of Februarie
to London, where he was triumphantlie receiued, and richlie presented,
as in the chronicles of Robert Fabian it maie at large appeare. After
that the king was departed into England, the duke of Bedford regent
of France, and captein of Calis, taried behind in the marches of
Picardie, where he was informed certeine souldiers of Calis grudging
at the restraint of woolles, began to murmur against the king and his
councell, to some danger of the towne. The duke vpon due examination
had caused diuerse to be put to death, and manie banished that towne
and marches for euer.
[Sidenote: The duchesse of Bedford sister to the duke of Burgognie
deceassed.]
[Sidenote: The duke of Bedford marieth with the earle of saint Paules
daughter.]
In the meane time, the ladie Anne duchesse of Bedford departed this
life at Paris, by whose death the fast knot of faithful friendship
betwixt the duke of Bedford and his brother in law the duke of
Burgognie began somewhat to slacken. Shortlie after, to wit, about the
beginning of the next yeare 1433, the said duke of Bedford being thus a
widower, through the persuason of the lord Lewes of Lutzenburgh bishop
of Terwine and Elie, and chancellor of France for king Henrie, agréed
to marrie the ladie Iaquet, daughter to Peter earle of saint Paule, and
néece to the said bishop, and to the lord Iohn of Lutzenburgh.
The mariage was solemnized at Terwine with great triumph. Which ended,
the duke with his new spouse (being about the age of seauentéene
yeares) came vnto Calis, and so into England, from whence in the
moneth of August next he returned to Paris. The duke of Burgognie,
though nothing pleased with this new aliance contracted by the duke
of Bedford, with the house of Lutzenburgh, but yet not able to doo
anie thing to let it; bicause of the mariage consummate yer he could
find any power or knowledge to hinder it. Whilest these things were a
dooing, in some places the French souldiers of the Dolphins, lacking
wages (as the time serued) tooke both Englishmen and Burgognians,
ransoming and spoiling them at their pleasure. Herewith the regent much
mooued, prepared for warre after six moneths the truce had béene taken:
and so the warre againe was renewed.
[Sidenote: The Frenchmen breake the peace and take the towne of Saint
Valerie.]
[Sidenote: Laignie besieged.]
The Frenchmen anon as open truce-breakers, raised a crue, and suddenlie
tooke the towne of saint Valerie in Normandie, néere to the mouth of
the riuer of Some. An other armie, vnder the leading of sir Ambrose de
Lore, wasted and destroied all the countrie about Caen. The duke of
Bedford on his part sent the earle of Arundell, the earle of Warwikes
sonne, the lord Lisle Adam marshall of France for king Henrie, and
twelue hundred men of warre with ordinance and munition to besiege
the town of Laignie vpon the riuer of Marne. The earle with shot of
canon brake the arch of the bridge, and got from the Frenchmen their
bulworke, and set it on fire. Diuerse assaults were attempted, but the
towne was well defended: for there were within it an eight hundred men
of armes, besides other meane souldiers.
The duke of Bedford herewith gathered an armie of six thousand men,
whereof were capteins; Robert lord Willoughbie, sir Andrew Ogard
chamberlaine to the duke, sir Iohn Saluaine bailiffe of Rone, sir Iohn
Montgomerie bailiffe of Caux, sir Philip Hall bailiffe of Vernoill, sir
Richard Ratcliffe deputie of Calis, sir Rafe Neuill, sir Rafe Standish,
sir Iohn Hanford, sir Richard Euthin, sir Richard Harington bailiffe
of Eureux, sir William Fulthorpe, sir Thomas Griffin of Ireland, Dauid
Hall, Thomas Stranguish, Leonard Ormstone esquiers, and Thomas Gerard.
All gentlemen of courage, and as forward to giue the French the foile,
as the French for their liues to giue them the discomfiture. But vnto
which side the victorie should befall, vncerteine it was before the
triall of both their chances had determined the doubt by the euent of
the conflict.
The duke of Bedford furnished with this armie and companie of worthie
capteins came to the siege before Laignie, where he made a bridge of
boats, and brought his ordinance so néere the towne, that to all people
it séemed not long able to resist. But the earle of Dunois, otherwise
called the bastard of Orleance, with diuerse hardie capteins, as
valiantlie defended as the Englishmen assaulted. At length the French
king, perceiuing this towne to be the thrée cornerd keie betwéene the
territories Burgognion, English, and French, and the losse thereof
should turne him to irreuocable damage, sent the lord of Rieux, Poiton,
the Hire, the lord Gawcourt, and six thousand men, with great plentie
of vittels, to the intent either to raise the siege, or else to vittell
the towne.
The Frenchmen made a brag, as though they would haue assailed the
Englishmen in their campe, but when they perceiued the courage of the
lord regent, and the desire he had to fight, they framed themselues
so in order of battell, as though they could doo all things, and yet
in effect did nothing: but that whilest part of them mainteined a
skirmish, a sort of rude & rusticall persons were appointed to conueie
into the towne thirtie oxen, and other small vittels. But this swéet
gaine was déerelie paied for, if the losse with the gaine be pondered
in equall balance: for hauing regard to their 30 leane oxen, in the
skirmish were slaine the lord Saintreiles brother to that valiant
capteine Poiton de Saintreiles, also capteine Iohn brother to the lord
Gawcourt, and fiftie other noble and valiant personages.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 11]
The Frenchmen thus politiklie hauing doone their feat, in the beginning
of August, remooued their armie vnto Fort vnder Yer, where, by a bridge
of tuns they passed into the Ile of France. The duke of Bedford (like
a wise prince) not minding to leaue the more in ieopardie for hope
of the lesse, nor the accident for the substance, raised his siege,
and returned to Paris, nothing more minding than to trie his quarrell
with dint of sword against the enimies, if they would thereto agrée.
And herevpon sent Bedford his herald to the lord Gawcourt and other
capteins of the French armie, offering them battell and a pitched
field within a conuenient time, and where they would appoint. The
French capteins answered the English herald, that there was time to
gaine, and time to lose: and for choise of times they would vse their
owne discretions.
[Sidenote: 1433]
[Sidenote: The castell of Rone like to be taken by treason of the
capteine.]
Shortlie after, Piers Audebeufe constable of the castell of Rone,
corrupted with monie, suffered the marshall of France, with two
hundred other, as persons disguised to enter the place by stealth: but
they were soone espied, and driuen to the dungeon, where they were
constrained to yéeld themselues prisoners: of the which some were
hanged, some headed, and some ransomed, at the pleasure of the regent.
This pageant thus plaied, the lord regent sent the earle of sainte
Paule, and Robert lord Willoughbie, with a competent number of men to
besiege the town of S. Valerie, which the Frenchmen a little before
had taken. This siege continued the space of thrée wéeks; at the end
whereof the Frenchmen within yéelded the towne, and departed with their
horsse and harnesse onelie to them saued.
[Sidenote: The lord of saint Paule deceassed.]
The earle put there in garrison fresh and valiant souldiers, and
appointed capteine there, sir Iohn Aubemond. ¶ In the same towne
(whether by infection of aire, or by corrupt vittels, which the
townesmen did eat) a great pestilence shortlie after happened, which
consumed within a small time two parts of the people. The earle of
saint Paule, and the lord Willoughbie returning backe to the regent,
were ioifullie receiued, and within a while after, the earle departed
from Paris to laie siege to the castell of Mouchas. But being incamped
néere the towne of Blangie, he by a sudden maladie departed this life,
the last of August, leauing his seigniories to Lewes de Lutzenburg
his sonne and heire. Bicause this dead earle was father in law to the
regent, solemne obsequies were kept for him both in Paris and in London.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 12.]
[Sidenote: Prisoners killed.]
In the meane season, the Frenchmen entering into high Burgognie,
burnt, tooke, and destroied diuerse townes; wherevpon the Burgognians
assembled a great armie, both to reuenge their quarrels, and to recouer
their townes taken from them. To whome as to his fréends the duke
of Bedford sent the lord Willoughbie, and sir Thomas Kiriell, with
a conuenient number of souldiers, which entering into the lands of
Laonnois, were incountered with a great power of their enimies. But
after long fight, the Frenchmen were ouerthrowne, and of them left dead
in the field an hundred and sixtie horssemen, beside prisoners, which
after vpon vrgent cause were all killed.
[Sidenote: 1434.]
[Sidenote: The lord Talbot saileth into France.]
Whilest these things happened thus in France, Iohn lord Talbot gathered
togither a crue of chosen men of warre in England, to the number of
eight hundred, and sailed into Normandie, and passed by Rone to Paris.
In his waie he tooke the strong castell of Ioing betwéene Beauuois and
Gisours, and caused all the Frenchmen within to be taken and hanged,
and after raced and defaced the castell. After he had rested himselfe
a while at Paris, and taken aduise with the councell there, what waie
it should be best for him to take, without prolonging time; he with the
lord de Lisle Adam and others, departed from thence, hauing in their
retinues sixtéene hundred men of warre. And comming to the castell
of Beaumont vpon Oise, whereof was capteine sir Amadour de Vignoils
brother to the Hire, they found it abandoned by them that had it in
kéeping, who were withdrawne to the towne of Creill.
[Sidenote: The lord Talbot.]
[Sidenote: Earle of Arundell.]
Thither therefore the lord Talbot followed, who slaieng in a skirmish
the said Amadour, he wan at length the said towne of Creill, and after
the townes of Pont S. Marence, Neufuile in Esmoie, la Rouge maison,
Crespie in Valois, & Cleremont in Beauuois, and after with great riches
and good prisoners returned to Paris. Neither had the lord Talbot such
good and prosperous successe alone but the earle of Arundell also at
the verie same season tooke the castell of Bomeline, & raced it to the
ground, after he got by force the castell of Dorle, & from thence came
to S. Selerine, where the lord Ambrose de Lore, being capteine, issued
out and fought with the Englishmen so egerlie, that he droue them backe
an arrow shoot by fine force: but the earle so incouraged his men,
that they gaue a fresh onset vpon the Frenchmen, and followed it so
fiercelie, that they slue a great number of them, and droue the residue
into the towne.
[Sidenote: Louiers besieged.]
[Sidenote: Saint Selerine won by assault.]
After this victorie, he besieged Louiers, whereof was capteine the
Hire, and his brother, who rendered the towne without assault. Then
the earle assembling togither a great armie, returned againe to S.
Selerine, & inuironed the towne with a strong siege. When he had lien
there almost thrée moneths, euerie daie attempting or dooing somewhat,
he finallie gaue so fierce an assault, that by force he entered the
towne, and slue Iohn Almaigne, and Guilliam saint Albine, the chéefe
capteins, and eight hundred other men of warre. The children of le
seigneur de Lore were taken prisoners. The earle put new men of warre
into the towne, and made capteine there sir Iohn Cornewall. After this,
he before the strong towne of Sillie pitched his campe. The inhabitants
terrified at the losse of saint Selerine, deliuered him pledges,
vpon condition, that if they were not rescued within thirtie daies
next, then they (their liues saued) should render the towne into his
possession: which offer was receiued.
The French king, being aduertised hereof by a post, appointed (as
some saie) Arthur earle of Richmont (or as other write, Iohn duke of
Alanson) with a great companie of men of warre to go to the rescue of
this towne. But whether it was the earle or duke, certeine it is at
his approching to the siege, he incamped himselfe by a brooke side,
ouer the which a man might haue striden, & perceiuing how stronglie the
English were incamped against him, he thought it not for his profit
to giue battell; & so in the night season raised & went his waie
without further attempt. When they within the towne knew that their
succours failed, they rendered themselues to the mercie of the earle
of Arundell, who gentlie receiued them, and leauing a garrison in the
towne, departed to Mans, and in his waie tooke the castels of Mellaie
and saint Laurence. About this time the lord Willoughbie & sir Thomas
Kiriell, returning with great victorie out of Burgognie, passing by the
towne of Louiers, latelie reduced to the English obeisance, furnished
it both with men and munition.
[Sidenote: An insurrection in Normandie.]
Among so manie good chances, some euill are accustomed to happen, or
else the gainers would not know themselues. And so at this time it
happened, that a great number of the common and rusticall people in
Normandie dwelling by the sea coast, either prouoked by the French
king, or desirous of alteration and change (which thing the commons
much couet and desire) made an insurrection, put on harnesse, and
by force expelled certeine English garrisons out of their holds,
publishing and proclaming openlie, that their onelie purpose and
intent was to expell and banish the whole English nation out of their
countries and coasts. Wherefore it maie be likelie, that the blacke
Morian will sooner become white, than the people bred in France will
heartilie loue an English borne. For it standeth not with their enuious
nature to alter their malicious maners; as the old prouerbe saith
truelie of them:
Celtica natura semper sequitur sua iura.
These rebels thus frantikelie assembled, with all spéed marched toward
Caen, to the intent there both to increase their number, and also to
consult what waie they should follow in their new begun enterprise.
But the dukes of Yorke and Summerset, then lieng in Normandie,
hauing perfect knowledge hereof, immediatlie sent foorth the earle
of Arundell, and the lord Willoughbie with six thousand archers, and
thirtéene hundred light horssemen, to staie and kéepe them from making
anie further progresse. The earle of Arundell appointed the lord
Willoughbie, with two thousand archers, and certeine horssemen to go
afore him, and lie in a stale within some couert place. Which doone,
the earle followed; & so kéeping in the multitude at the backe, droue
them before him as deare into a buckestale: and when the miserable
wretches came néere to the stale, the earle made a token, whereat a
gun shot off for a signe. Therewith the lord Willoughbie set on them
before, and the earle behind, shooting so fiercelie, that the poore
caitiues, wounded and galled with the shot of arrowes, threw awaie
their harnesse, and cried out instantlie for mercie.
The earle of Arundell mooued with compassion, caused his souldiers
to staie from further slaughter, and apprehending those that were
knowen to be stirrers and leaders of the rest, let the other returne
home without further damage: but yet, yer the souldiers could be
brought backe vnder their standards, there were aboue a thousand of
the rebels slaine. And this commotion thus appeased, vpon inquirie
of the principall offenders, such as were found guiltie were put to
terrible executions; as they had well deserued. During which rebellion,
Peter Rokeford and his companie gat by treason the towne of Diepe and
diuerse other holds thereto adioiming. After the earle of Arundell
had obteined so good successe in his enterprises (as partlie ye haue
heard) he attempted another, which was the last worke and finall labour
of his liuing daies. For the duke of Bedford, being informed that his
aduersaries had gotten the towne of Rue, and therein put a garrison,
which sore vexed the countries of Ponthieu, Arthois, and Bolennois,
sent word to the earle that he without delaie should besiege the said
towne.
The earle obeieng his commandement assembled his people, and came to
Gourneie, where he heard tell how there was a castell néere to Beauuois
called Gerberoie, the which being fallen in decaie, Charles the French
king had appointed sir Stephan de Vignoils, commonlie called the Hire,
to repare and newlie to fortifie, bicause it stood commodiouslie to
serue as a countergarrison against the English townes and fortresses
on those frontiers. The earle aduertised hereof, and perceiuing that
this new building would be greatlie preiudicial to the Englishmen,
determined first to dispossesse his enimies of that place, supposing
to find small resistance: but he was deceiued. For there was the said
Hire, and thrée thousand men of warre with him. The erle comming
thither, incamped himselfe with fiue hundred horssemen in a little
close not farre from the castell.
The Frenchmen, perceiuing that the earle and his horsses were wearie,
and that his archers were not yet come, determined to set vpon him
before the comming of his footmen, the which they knew to be little
more than a mile behind. Wherfore for a policie, they set foorth fiftie
horssemen, as though there had béene no mo within the castell. The
earle perceiuing this, sent foorth sir Randolfe Standish to incounter
them, hauing with him an hundred horsses. The Frenchmen fought
couragiouslie awhile, and suddenlie came out all the remnant, and
slue sir Randolfe Standish and all his companie, and boldlie set on
the earle and his band, which manfullie resisted the Frenchmen, till
at length the Hire caused thrée culuerings to be shot off amongst the
Englishmen, wherof one strake the earle on the ancle, and so brake his
leg, that for paine he fell from his horsse.
[Sidenote: The earle of Arundell deceassed.]
Then the Frenchmen entered amongst the Englishmen, tooke the earle
lieng on the ground, with sir Richard Wooduile, and six score more,
and there were slaine almost two hundred. The residue saued themselues
as well as they might. The earle was caried to Beauuois, where of his
hurt he shortlie died, & was buried in the frier Minors. He was a
man of singular vertue, constancie, and grauitie, whose death in so
troublous a season did sore appall the harts of the English people.
Thus oftentimes varied the chance of doubtfull warre, so that one time
the Englishmen got by assault, and yéelded diuerse strong townes,
castels, and piles: and at another season the French people, sometime
by bargaine, sometime by assault, obteined the same againe, or other in
their stéed.
[Sidenote: The duke of Bourbon dieth at London.]
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
About the moneth of Iune in this twelfth yeare, Iohn duke of Bourbon
and Auuergne, taken prisoner at the battell of Agincourt eightéene
yéeres past (as before ye haue heard) now paieng his ransome, which
was eightéene thousand pounds sterling, was taken with a most sore
and grieuous feuer, the which made an end of his life in the citie of
London, on the same daie that was appointed for his departure towards
France, whose corpse was interred in the graie friers of the same
citie. ¶ This yeare also about the latter end of Maie, was a méeting
appointed to be had at saint Omers betwixt the dukes of Bedford and
Burgognie, for the qualifieng of certeine displeasures and grudges
betwixt them kindled and mainteined by some flattering taletellers, who
raising matters of reproch touching their honors, bred such grudges,
that all loue betwixt them ceassed, all affinitie reiected, and all
old fréendship forgotten; such enuie insueth where enimitie once hath
princes harts possessed.
These two dukes come into the towne of saint Omers, the duke of Bedford
being then regent of France, sonne, brother, and vncle to kings,
thought that the duke of Burgognie should haue come and visited him in
his lodging. The duke of Burgognie on the other part, being lord and
souereigne of the towne, iudged it as much vnméet for him to go to the
regent where he was lodged. Howbeit by intreatie of fréends, to méet
in a place indifferent betwéene both their lodgings was appointed;
which offer not accepted, both parties departed discontent, and neuer
after saw nor communed togither. Thus by the proud disdaine and enuious
discord of these two high stomached princes, Bedford not minding to
haue anie péere, and Burgognie not willing to abide anie superior,
shortlie after England much lost, and Burgognie greatlie gained not, as
by the sequeale may appeare.
[Sidenote: An. Reg. 13]
[Sidenote: A towne surprised by entrance of a common priuie.]
[Sidenote: The fruits of warre.]
The bastard of Orleance, called the earle of Dunois, the lord Rochford
marshall of France, with other, in the beginning of this thirtéenth
yeare, tooke the towne of S. Denis by treason, skirmished with them
of Paris, and leauing behind them a great garrison, tooke the towne
of Howdone, and Pont saint Marence by composition. And at the same
time was the towne of Pont Meulan taken by the sudden scaling of two
fishermen, who entered vp at a common priuie standing in the wall.
Thus warre continuallie lasted betwixt these two mightie nations,
English and French, within the realme of France (than which therefore
no countrie thought more miserable.) And though the poore people and
inhabitants of the good townes and villages, susteined most losse in
their substance, yet the men of warre oftentimes paied déerest for the
bargaine, being daily slaine, wounded, and taken prisoners; for warre
seldome beareth anie other fruit.
[Sidenote: _W. P._]
[Sidenote: 1434.]
[Sidenote: _Onophrius Panuinius._]
[It may serue verie well here to recount, how somewhat before these
daies, Martin the fift, in the fiftéenth yeare of his popedome, An.
1431, agréeing vpon a generall councell to be holden at Basill the same
yeare, did anon after deceasse: whom Eugenie the fourth succéeding, and
liking right well of the time and place, by his authority signified and
sent with Iulian Cesarine his legat, did confirme the choise. Wherevpon
as the councell the ninetéenth of Iulie the same 1431 was there begun,
and his holinesse soone after aduertised how malapertlie his ghostlie
children had imbusied themselues in checking at their holie fathers
faults, and about reformation of his church at Rome; his sublimitie
therat highlie offended (for great cause it had) commanded his legat
by and by to dissolue that synod, and in his name to appoint a new at
Ferrar, and so come his waie: vnder colour forsooth how that place was
méetest for the prelats of the Gréeke church, who had to confer with
the Latine councell about points of religion, wherein they long had
remained at square.
But these Basilien clerks, there still fastlie conteining themselues,
so smallie regarded this summons of Eugenie (who then with his prelats,
as the time was run on, vpon prorogation from Ferrar kept an other
councell at Florence 1439) as by a confident countermand cited Eugenie
and all his cardinals to come to them at their solemne set councell at
Basill. Which his supremassie (for so best became it, notwithstanding
sundrie citations) vtterlie contemning to doo, they soone after
like verie impious imps, first for contumacie accurssed his holie
fatherhood, then depriued him of his papasie, and out of hand chose
another in his office, one Amedius late duke of Sauoie, who afore that
time hauing giuen vp his possessions & dignitie vnto his children,
became an heremite in a monasterie of his own building by mount Geuenna
in Sauoie nigh the lake Leman, where he by title of Decanus militum
Iesu Christi, and ten more of nobilitie with him, had setled themselues
to liue.
[Sidenote: _An. 3. Nichol._]